mcmahen



exact description thereof, which will enable others and effective apparatus for boring wells and deep holes .as w @we um@ I tant @gluant ledit A. A. MCMAHN, OF OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI.

Leners Patent No. 88,891, dated April 13, 1869.

IMPRovED wELL-AUGER To all whom it may conce/m:

Be it known that I, A. A. MCMAHEN, of Oxford, in the county of Lafayette, and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and improved Well-Auger; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of myimproved wellauger.

Figure 2 is a detail side view of a portion of the helical sections when brought togctherto form a continuous helix.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of one of the helical sections.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple for other purposes for which itmay be found applicable.

It consists in a number of different features of improvement, which, separately or combined, conduce to themore effective operation of well-angers, as is hereinafter fully set forth. A

The rst feature of improvement consists in the employment, in a well-auger, of a square sheet-metal box, A, working loosely on a shaft, B, bearing any suitable boring-helix, or auger-bit. This combination enables the circular'hole made by the auger to be squared in the process ef boring, so that it will readily receive a box-curbing or square tubing.

The second feature of improvement consists in construeting the helix of the auger in separate sections, so that each section may be placed at an interval of space from the adjacent ones, or be brought close together to form one continuous helix, according to the` nature or densityl of earth being penetrated. For example, in a light,sandy soil, the auger would operate most effectually when the helix was continuous, but in stiff clay soils, the sections being separated, each presents a cutting radial edge, which is more favorable to the operation of the auger.

The box A is stiened with two heads, G D, eachA having a central hole, in which the shaft B Works freely.

rlhe upper head, O, bears a plate, a, which aiords a bearing-surface for the flange, or collar E, afxed on the shaft B The collar E forms part of a head, G, having alower socket, for the reception' of the end ofthe shaft B, and an upper socket, for the reception of the rod, pole, or stan", passing down the well and actuating the auger.

'lhe lower plate bears a plate, b, which affords a bearing-surface for the collar d, in the shaft B. This collar is held in place by means of a set-screw, or other suitable means.

The box A projects down a short distance below the lower head, so as to present a sucient magin for cutting away 'the earth in squariug the hole.

The helical sections are composed of sheet-metal helical disks, H, each helix having the required pitch.

These disks are aixed on short sleeves I, the length of each of which is equal to the pitch of its disk. The sleeves aremovable longitudinally on the square shaft B, but are held in place by set-screws.

The lower disk, J, is a plane disk, having a radial opening, or recess, to one edge of which is axed a cutter, or bit c, for cutting into the soil in the usual manner.

The shaft B is prolonged below this disk, and terminates in a helical formation, K, serving as an entering-point.

rIhe auger is started by means of a two-handled wrench, L, which is removable, the recess fitting on the shaft B, above the helix.

This recess is closed by a button-plate, f.

As the auger descends, this wrench is removed, and the auger is turned by means of a pole or rod fixed in the upper socket of the head G.-

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Patentl. The employment, in connection with a well-auger,

Letters of the squaring-box A, operating substantially as andfor the purpose herein shown and described.

2. Forming the helical part of awell-auger in separate sections, H I, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

3. rlhe cQmbination, in a well-auger, of the squarngbox, A, with the helix, made in separable sections, H I, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described A. A. MCMAHEN.

Witnesses:

.J M. 000K, J. H. TEAs. 

